Piracy, illegal fishing, smuggling, and environmental degradation remain significant threats to maritime security in the Western Indian Ocean and beyond.

Kenya Navy commander Major General Paul Otieno emphasized the three as ongoing challenges plaguing the maritime sector during an inaugural workshop on the establishment of the Djibouti Code of Conduct (DCOC) working group on operational coordination and cooperation at sea, held on Monday, 1st September, 2025 in Mombasa.

“These challenges continue to undermine the safety and security of our seas,” he stated urging member states to strengthen their resolve under the DCOC framework to address these issues.

He highlighted that no single nation can tackle these complex and evolving threats alone, stressing the need for enhanced regional cooperation, information sharing, and coordinated operations.

The Djibouti Code of Conduct, established in 2009 and strengthened by the Jeddah Amendment in 2017, has been instrumental in combatting piracy and illicit maritime activities.

However, the major general noted that persistent issues like illegal fishing and smuggling demand bolder ideas and united efforts to secure vital sea lines of communication and protect maritime sovereignty.

Kenya Navy fleet commander Brigadier Mohammed Shemote echoed these concerns, emphasizing that illegal fishing remains a critical challenge.

He expressed gratitude to international partners, including the government of Kenya, the Kingdom of Denmark, Interpol, the EU, and AFRICOM, for their support in establishing the working group.

“Securing the maritime sector is a shared responsibility,” he said.

Tanzania’s representative at the workshop called for increased joint patrols to curb illegal fishing, identifying it as a pressing issue affecting regional waters.

Similarly, Mr Sascha Weh, head of the United Nations Institute for Training (UNITAR) Peace Office in Brussels, warned that instability at sea, driven by renewed piracy attacks in the Red Sea, illegal fishing, smuggling, and environmental risks, quickly translates to instability on land.

 “While piracy incidents have declined, these emerging challenges show that more resolve and concerted efforts are needed,” Weh said.

The major general reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to providing operational, institutional, and diplomatic support to enhance regional maritime cooperation.

He urged the DCOC working group to meet the expectations set by the code to make the seas safer and more secure, emphasizing the Kenya Navy’s role in safeguarding national and regional maritime interests.

DCOC member states include; Kenya, Tanzania, Somalia, Bahrain, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, South Africa, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Mozambique, Jordan, Comoros and Yemen.

By George Otieno